Note: In a career context, all numbers are restricted between 0 and 5. However, in a match context, the numbers are not restricted. For simplicity, we are changing the scale here in the report and expressing every Match Impact number as a percentage. The maximum percentage (100) is assigned to the highest impact player of the match. All other players in the match are scaled relative to him. Negative Match Impact indicates that not only did the player not contribute in the match, but he also had an adverse effect on his team’s chances.​​

India coasted to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the first ODI in Dharamsala on Sunday (16 Oct).

Debutant Hardik Pandya was the highest impact player, and bowler, of the match for his three top/middle-order wickets (3 for 31 off 7 overs) that all but sealed the visitors’ fate at half time.

Pandya was ably supported by Umesh Yadav (2 for 31 off eight overs) and Kedar Jadhav (2 for 6 off three overs) – respectively, the second and third-highest impact players of the match. The trio scythed through the Black Caps’ top/middle-order, leaving them in tatters at 65 for 7 in 18.4 overs, before the hosts met with some sort of resistance.

Much of the said resistance was from Tom Latham who finished as the highest impact batsman of the match. He was also New Zealand’s highest impact player.

Carrying his bat through the innings, the opener absorbed pressure and scored a stubborn 79 off 98 balls. Having added 41 runs for the eighth wicket with Doug Bracewell (46-ball-15), the highlight of Latham’s innings was a 71-run stand (in a little under ten overs) for the ninth wicket with the free-striking Tim Southee (45-ball-55) as the Kiwis avoided major blushes.

As many as seven New Zealanders failed in the opening ODI. India, on the other hand, had three such players.